exploited

[ik-sploi-tid]

adjective

1. utilized or made practical use of, especially for profit.

   Edible insects are a widely exploited food source among many of the world’s Indigenous populations.

2. used selfishly by someone for their own ends.

   Every one of these exploited workers shared stories of their inhumane working conditions and their determination to fight back.

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of exploit.

Other Word Forms

• half-exploited adjective
• self-exploited adjective
• unexploited adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of exploited¹

exploit ² ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

In 2024 the Biden Administration withdrew U.S. troops from Niger, creating a vacuum that jihadists have exploited.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Those involved exploited delays in processing the sale to create confusion over who actually owned the shares at the moment when the dividend was paid.

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"Online platforms are now essential lifelines for many small businesses across Wales, yet problems such as intellectual property theft and ineffective dispute resolution leave businesses exposed and exploited," he said.

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The theft has left France badly embarrassed over how the thieves exploited security weaknesses at the world’s most visited museum.

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“It just makes you feel exploited a little bit.”

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Related Words

• abused www.thesaurus.com
• oppressed 
• overburdened www.thesaurus.com